An Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held in Parliament on 1 July and officers of the Group were elected.
Conservative MP for Stevenage, Stephen McPartland, was voted chair of the Group.
The following MPs and peers were elected vice-chairs:
Lord Davies of Coity (Labour)
Maggie Throup MP (Conservative)
Lord Hoyle (Labour).
The aim of the Group is to raise awareness of the furniture industry and to publicise and promote the industry in the UK in order to protect jobs and investment.
Paul von der Heyde, Chairman of the British Furniture Confederation said: “I’m very pleased to confirm that the APPFIG has been successfully re-established following the General Election. The Group provides a valuable forum to discuss issues of importance to the furniture, furnishings and bed industry, including biomass subsidies, apprenticeships and flammability regulations. I wish the Group the best in its work over this Parliament, and am excited to be working with Members going forwards.”
The AGM coincided with the annual Confederation lunch at Westminster, organised by the Furniture Makers’ Company. At the meeting, the Chair of the APPFIG, Stephen McPartland MP was presented with an award to recognise the outstanding support he has shown to the British furniture, furnishings and bed industry since becoming Group Chair in 2010.